Signed by Basil Fernando, AHRC Director Policy and Programme Development, the letter cited the threats to the judiciary in Sri Lanka on the basis of the recent attempted abduction and assault of Manjula Thilakarathne, the secretary of the Judicial Service Commission.

In his letter, Fernando requested the direct intervention of Gabriella Knaul, Special Rapporteur to directly intervene and stop the speedy erosion of judicial independence in Sri Lanka

“Judiciary is being reduced merely to administrative functions and of rubber stamping the decisions of the executive as are some 'judiciaries' in Asia such as that of Myanmar and Cambodia. This is a very real and serious threat,” Fernando said in his letter.

Seeking a visit of Knaul in her capacity as the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations to Lanka, AHRC exhorted the international body’s official to personally “observe the situation” and alternatively “take some exceptional steps for assessment of the situation and to make an effective intervention”.

“The highest bodies of the United Nations need to be duly informed about the predicament that the independent judiciary in Sri Lanka is faced with,” the letter added.

AHRC/TSV

-Southern Features

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